502 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 

 might be supplied to it in the absence of stable manure. The analysis 



of the soil was as follows : — 



(Soil dried at 21 2° F.) Per cent. 



Organic matter and loss on heating . . io-88 



Oxide of iron ...... 3-64 



Alumina ...... 5-79 



Lime . . . . . . . 1-83 



Magnesia ...... -50 



Potash ....... -47 



Soda -27 



Phosphoric icid ..... -65 



Sulphuric acid . . . . . -n 



Carbonic acid ...... -65 



Insoluble silicates and sand . . . 75-21 



10000 



Nitrogen' . . . . . . -419 



The soil was a blackish-coloured loam of distinctly fertile character ; 

 and one that would, in the ordinary way, want practically nothing 

 doing to it, inasmuch as it was well supplied with the main elements 

 of fertility. The quantity of potash contained in the soil was dis- 

 tinctly above the average, and except for special purposes, such 

 as the growing of fruit trees, I should hardly consider the additional 

 application of potash salts as necessary. In the absence of stable 

 manure, the best substitute would probably be Peruvian guano 

 or fish manure. 



(b) Soils containing magnesia in excess of lime. 



I have, in previous reports, referred to cases where, in my opinion, 

 the unsatisfactory nature of the soil has been due to the fact of magnesia 

 being present in the soil in excess of the lime contained. I give now 

 other two instances brought to my notice in the course of the year : — 



1. Garden Soil. 



(Soil dried at 212 0 



F.) 



Per cent. 



Organic matter and loss on heating . 



6-57 



Oxide of iron and alumina 





780 



Lime ..... 





•36 



Magnesia . 





•80 



Phosphoric acid 





•31 



Alkalies &c. .... 





•67 



Insoluble siliceous matter 





83-49 







ioo-oo 



2. Rose Soil. 







(Soil dried at 212 0 



F.) 



Per cent. 



Organic matter and loss on heating . 



6-87 



Oxide of iron .... 





3-99 



Alumina .... 





5-37 



Lime ..... 





113 



Magnesia . . 





1-99 



Potash 





•81 



Soda ..... 





•33 



Phosphoric acid 





•31 



Sulphuric acid 





•03 



Insoluble silicates and sand 





79-17 







ioo-oo 



Nitrogen .... 





•199 



